Material spreader



Jan. 13,1944. F. E. ARN DT 2,339,236

MATERIAL SI'READER Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Fi led June 30, 1939 $3 //v VEN TOE ATT' El FRANKLIN EAENDIj Jan. 18, 1944. 5 ARNDT MATERIAL SPREADER Original Filed June 30, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVEHTOE FRANKLIN ErARND'I;

ATT'Y.

Patented Jan. 18, 1944 MATERIAL SPREADER Franklin E. Arndt, Gallon, Ohio, assignor to The Galion Iron Works & Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Ohio Original application June so, 1939, Serial No. 282,242. Divided and this application October 10, 1940, Serial No. 360,588

20 Claims. 101. 275-2) My invention relates to road material spreaders of the type which is adapted to be hitched to and hauled behind a dumping truck traveling along the roadway, and one of the objects of the invention is the provision of a rotary conveyor in the hopper of a spreader and having means for conveying toward the lateral ends of the spreader some of the material delivered to the open top of the hopper of the spreader.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved mechanism for driving the feed roll of the spreader always in the same direction whether the spreader is pulled forwardly or pushed rearwardly and extending a driving connection from such feed roll to a rotary conveyor in the hopper of the spreader so that such rotary conveyor will also always be driven in the same direction irrespective of the direction of travel of the spreader.

Other objects 'of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 282,242, filed June 30, 1939, for an improvement in a Material spreader, now Patent No. 2,309,086, granted January 26, 1943, as a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial'No. 131,837, filed March 19, 1937, for an improvement in Material spreaders, now Patent No. 2,252,690, granted August 19, 1941.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the spreader 'embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the left-hand end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the right-hand end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the spreader shown in front elevation in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the modification comprising oppositely acting spiral conveyors which may be substituted for the oppositely acting paddles of the agitator shown in plan in Fig. 4;

The hopper II, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, is adapted to extend substantially, beyond both sides of a draft vehicle or self-propelled hauling dump ing truck. The hopper H, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, is supported upon the wheels l2, 13 which are set inwardly from the vertical end walls of the hopper so as to track just inside or just outside of the paths of travel of the wheels of the truck or draft vehicle. That is to say, when hitching devices [6 and I6 at the front side'of the spreader are connected to the drawbar at ;prise various plates welded together the rear end of the dumping truck, the wheels I2 and I3 of the spreader will travel along paths immediately outside or immediately inside of the paths of travel of the wheels of the dumping truck.

The hopper ll comprises an open top and an open bottom and below the latter is located the feed roll 20. The bottom wall 2| of the hopper slopes downwardly from the cross-piece 22 to the feed roll 20. On the underside of the bottom wall 2| are secured-by means of welding. the

bracket plates to which are pivoted the rear-' wardly extending arms 21, 28 of a U-shaped frame structure. This frame structure may cominto one rigid unit.

Secured to the bottom of the hopper are vertical plates 32 and 33 at opposite sides of the frame structure, as shown in Fig. 1. The depending plates 32, 33 act as guiding abutments' for the frame structure to confine the latter to upright adjustment on its pivots 25, 26.

Welded to the ends of the cross-piece 35 are the upright jaw plates 36, 31, each having spaced-'- apart upper and lower fixed jaws. The jaw plate 36 comprises the upper jaw 38 and the lower jaw 39, as shown in Fig. 2. The jaw plate 3! com-" 1 prises the upper jaw 40- and the lower jaw 4|;

as shown in Fig. 3. The jaws'38, 39 and 40, 4|

are beveled to facilitate positioning of the dump-' ing truck drawbar.

On the outside of the jaw plates 36, 31 are" actuating rod which is provided with a handle 5| within easy reach of the operator at the righthand end of thespreader, as viewed in Fig. 1.

Secured to the upper front edge portion of the hopper is a bracket plate 52 provided with an opening for receiving the rod 50 so that the latter may have a journal support to co-operate with the universal joint 43 to support the rod 53 in the position shown in Fig. 1. Secured to the rod 50 is a bracket plate 53 to which is connected a spring 54 the lower end of which is secured below the bottom of the hopper near the right-hand end thereof as viewed in Fig. 1.

It can readily be seen by referring to Fig. 1

that when the rod 50 is rotated by means of the spreader may be pushed forward so that the. beveled surfaces 44 and 45 of the latch plates will engage the dumping truck drawbar whereupon the latch plates will be automatically depressed against the action oft he spring 54. until.=

the drawbar is in the desired position, whereupon" the spring 54 will snap the latch plates into their locking positions.

In order to enable the drawbar to be secured to the rear end of the dumping truck at fixeda pivotally connected link 91 the inner end of which is pivotally connected to a bracket 98 on the outer wall of the hopper end plate 85. To the upper end of the shipper 96 is pivotally connected a rod 99 which is adapted to extend under the bottom plate 2I to the other end of the spreader within easy reach of the operator. As shown in Fig. 3, the rod 99 is pivotally connected to. the lower end of a shifting lever IIJIi which is fulcrumed at II to the outer side of the hopper end plate 81.

Theright-hand end of the shaft 83, as viewed in Fig. 1, is connected through reversing gearing 7 I02, I03.to .ashaft on which is splined a jaw clutch element I 64. Associated with this jaw clutch elementis a slip clutch element I95 which is connected to the sprocket I86. By means of elevation relative to the road surface and to save 7 the time necessary to adjust the elevation of tlie'drawbar relative to the road surface, I have provided means for adjusting the elevations of.

the? hitching devices so as to. be in accordance withthe elevation of the drawbar on the dump.

ing truck. Secured to and depending from a cross'piece 3I of the pivoted U-shaped frame structure are spaced-apart bracketplates 55, 55 between which is swiveled a nut 55, as shown in Fig; 1. Threaded through the nut 56 is the up-' right screw-threaded shaft 58. At the upper end of the screw-threaded portion of the shaft 58 is a collar for supporting the double arm bracket 60; Immediately above the'collar the shaft 58 isjournaled in the lower end of the bracket 50. To'the upper end of the shaft 58 is keyed a bevel gear BI which meshes with another bevelgear 62 keyed to the shaft" 63, the ends of which are journaled in the-..bearings 64, 65 at the upper end por'tioncf the bracket 60, as shown in Figs. 1 and-4.?

Theouter. ends of the journal bearings '64, G5 are in turn journale'd inopenings in the plates fiBgifi'L asshown in Fig. 1. The plates 66, 61 are rigidly'secured' to the bottom plate 2I of the hopper? By'means of'a universal joint 69;. the shaft 63 is 'connectedto theactuating rod Ill. The rod III maybeiextende'd through an opening in one of the laterakend walls of the hopper to an actuating. handle 1| shown in Fig. 3.

Secured to the under side of the hopper are the bracket plates 16;", asshown in Fig- 1. Bolted at I8-;."I9?tothe bracket plates I6, 11 are thejournalTharingstII, 8 I for the inwardly extending supportifig wheel shafts 82,."83. The wheels I2 and I 3*are keyed to the" shafts B2 and-83 to rotate therewith.

The outer ends of the shafts 82'and83? are journal'ed in bearings 84', 85 which are secured to the "end walls of the'elongated hopper. Bearing'against the. in'nenwall ofthe end plate 86 of the hopper is a co1lar88 which is secured-to the shaft .82 by means .OffiLSGFSCIBWj-f as; shown in Figill. 1

Splined-to the outer endf of the shaft 82 isa jaw clutchelement90', as shown 1.. Associated with the j'aw'clu'tch; element" 99 isa slip clutch. element: 91 which istloosely journaled on the shaft 8.2. The. slipcclutchelementlil is connectedi'to the sprocket92. As shown in Fig. 2,

the sprocket 92 is connected Icy-means of the sprocket 'chainififi to; the sprocket 94 secured. to the shaft 95.0'fjthezfeed roll.;29-..EA shipper 95 is connected to the jaw clutcnfifly. as shown in-Figs.

1;. and -2. Intermediate: the 'endscof the shipper is.

a shipper IB'I connected to the jaw clutch element I04, the latter may be moved into or out of engagement with the slip clutch element I 95. The shipper 'Ifll comprises two plates between which extends the fulcrum element I08 on the outer A spring I99" holds the resilient straps of the shipper III! infrictional engagement with the mounting I08 so wall of the hopper end plate- 81.

that when the operator releases the handle IIII, the clutch will remain applied or released.

As shown in Fig. 3, the sprocket I06 is con nected bymeans of the sprocket chain I II to the sprocket II2 on the feedroll shaft 95. Reinforcing'plates H3 and H4, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, may be used for securely mounting the journal bearings for the roller shaft 95 in desired association with the discharge openingin the shown Fig. 3 or in the direction of the arrow? shown in Fig; 2, irrespective of the direction of travel .of the spreader. When the spreader is pulledforwardly or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3,]

the clutch element I94 will be rotated in a clockwise, direction as viewed from the right-hand end When the handle" H9 is moved awayfromthe plate 81, the clutch element I 04 engages the jaw clutch I95 and the sprocket I 96 will be" rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig.

of Fig; 1.

3 and consequently the feed roll 20 will be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3.

When the spreader is moved rearwardly with the clutch elements I04 and I05 still in engagement, the clutch element I04 will be automati-- cally slipped off the clutch element I95. Only by throwing in the clutch 99, 9| can the feed roll 29 be rotated when the spreader is moved rearwardly. By moving the lever I away from* the plate 81, the rod 99 will. be pushed to the left asviewed'in' Fig. 1, and the clutch elements 99, SI brought: into engagement, whereupon the rearward rotation of the wheels I2 will cause anticlockwise movement of the sprocket 92, as viewed in Fi 2, and this will efiect rotation of the feed roll- 29 in an .anti-clockwisedirection as viewedin Fig. 2 or in a, clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. It will thus be seen that the feed roll 20' will alwaysbe rotated in feeding direction whether a the spreader is moved forwardly or rearwardly.

Uniformity of direction of rotation of the feed roll; 29 is taken advantage of in securing rota-'- tion of the conveyorl I5 always in the same direc-.: tion; irrespective of the direction of travel of the spreaderalong the roadway. Moreover, the slip. 5'

clutch ll6'assures uniformity Of rotation of the conveyor II5. The sprocket chain II I is extended around the sprocket I I1, as shown in Fig. 3. Connected to the sprocket II1 to rotate therewith is a slip clutch element" H8. The jaw clutch element I I9 is splined to the shaft I20 of the rotary agitator II5. By means of a loop handle I2I, the clutch element II9 may be applied or released.

It can readily be seen by referring to. Figs. 1 and 3 that since the feed roll 20 always rotates in the same direction, the sprocket II1 will always be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed from the right-hand end of Fig. 1. Such direction of rotation is desirable because the rotary conveyor II5 comprises diagonally extending paddles I22, I23 so distributed and arranged as to convey some of the material from the middle of the hopper toward the outer lateral ends thereof. Such conveying action in opposite directions from the middle of the hopper is desirable, particularly when the hopper is elongated-on both sides of the path of travel of the towing truck. The feed roll 20 may therefore be termed an actuator for this purpose. In other words, when the-load carry ing body of the dumping truck is tilted to dump ing position, such body is narrow relative to the transverse length of the hopper. As the material is received from the dumping truck, the spread of such material tothe lateral ends of the hopper is greatly facilitated by the conveying action of the rotary conveyor H5;

Inasmuch as the hopper is elongated across the roadway, the rotary conveyor I I5 is journaled not only in the end plates of the hopper but also in one or more spaced-apart vertical reinforcing" plates I26, I21 and I28, as shown inFig. 4. The vertical reinforcing plates I26,v I21 and I28 are welded at their ends to inner walls of the hopper, but it should be particularly noted that these reinforcing plates are shallow in depth and are located intermediate the bottom and top of the hopper. The middle reinforcin plate I21 may support the journal bearing I21 for the shaft- I29 of the rotary conveyor I I5.- Therefore, the conveyor H5 extends under the plates I26 and I28 and the shaft of the conveyor is journaled in the bearing I21 carried by the reinforcing plate I 21. U. shaped loops I29 and I30 may be welded to the plates I26 and I28 to form lifting eyes to facilitate assembly or transportation.

Further reinforcement of the hopper may be effected by providing a pipe I3I along the entire length of the rear edge of the hopper, this pipe being welded at its ends to the end plates 86, 81

and also welded along its length to the rear upper edge of the rear inclined wall I32. Reinforcing pipes I33, I34 may be welded to the upper edges of the plates I35 and-I36. Hinged at I31, as

shown in Fig. 2, is a sheet I38.of flexible material,

such as rubber, to close the openspace afforded by the cut-away portion I39 of Fig. 4. Near such cut-away portion additional support for the pipes I 33 and I 34 may be afforded by plate s 'pports, shown at I48 in Fig. 1.

Handle bars I42 and I43 are connected to'the front portions of the end plates 85, 81 to extend forwardly along opposite sides of the dumping" truck. Even after hitching has been effected, the screw shaft 58 may be rotated so as to tilt the hopper on the axis of the wheels I2, I3. By referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that if the hitching mechanism remains at fixed relation by reason of the dumping truck drawbar being at fixed elevation, operation of the screw shaft58 will tilt the hopper and therefore vary the eleva tionof the feed roll 20. However, the main purpose of the mechanism for adjusting the elevation of the hitching mechanism is to accommodate the hitching mechanism to whatever height thedrawbar' of the towing truck may be, and in thisway maintain the upper open side of the hopper approximately horizontal for maximum capacity when receiving material from the dumping truck.

Fig. 5 shows a modified conveyor I I5 comprising a shaft I with spiral blades I44 and I45. The journal hearing I 28 for the shaft I20 may be attached to the center reinforcing plate I21. When the conveyor H5 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the right-hand end of Fig. 5, the spiral blades I44 and I45 will convey material in opposite directions away from the plate I21 and therefore toward the end plates 88, 61 of the hopper.

I will now describe the mechanism for adjusting the rate of feed from end to end of the feed and extends over the full length of the feed roll between the end plates 86, 81 of the hopper. The valve plate has a vertical portion I41 and an inwardly inclined portion I48, as shown in Fig. 2. The vertical portion I41 overlaps the outer lower edge of the vertical wall I32 which extends downwardly from the inclined wall I 32 of the hopper.'

Secured rigidly to the'ends of the valve plate I46 are outwardly projecting bars. These bars extend through brackets I52 and I53 mounted on the rear edges of the hopper plates 66, 81 to form slots or vertical guideways. Pins I54 and I55 extend outwardly from the ends of the bars through blocks I56 and I51 which in turn are pivoted at I58, I59, respectively, to lifting straps Ififland' IGI, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3. At the upper ends of the straps I60 and I6I are nuts I 62, I 63 through which are threaded the vertical rods I64, I65, the shafts of which are journaled at I66an'dl61 to levers or arms I68, I68 and I59, I18, which in turn are rigidly connected to the rock'shaft I4I, as shown in Fig. 4.

The journal bearing I61 is pivotally mounted between the arm I10 and the lever I69. The arm I10 is fixed at its right-hand end as viewed in Fig. 3, to the rock shaft MI. The arm I10 extends'radially from the rock shaft I4! in parallelism with the lever I69.

The lower fulcrum end of the lever 569 is rigidly connected to one end of the rock shaft I4I which is'journaled and held in the slot I 12 in the end plate 91 by the keeper I12. The opposite end of the rock shaft I4I is journaled and held the slot'I13 in the plate 86 by the keeper I13 and is rigidly attached to the arms I68, I68. Between the arms I68, I68 at their free ends is pivotally supported the journal bearing I66, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

.It will thus be seen that when the lever I69 is lifted or' lowered from the right-hand end of the spreader, as viewed in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, both ends of the valve plate I46 are lifted or lowered equally relative to the feed roll 20.

The lever I69 is provided with an inwardly extending latch I14 which is adapted to fit in any of the notches I 15 of the arcuate plate I16 secured to the hopper plate 81, as shown in Fig. 3. The lever I69 extends between the guide rod I11 and the arcuate notched plate I 16.

After equal adjustment has been made of both ends of the valve plate relative to the feed roll opposite ends of; the spreader, either to secure uniform feed over the entire length of the feed roll or to secure greater feed from one end por-' tion of the feed roll than from the other end portion thereof. By means of the handles I18 and I19, as shown in Figs. -2 and 3,.the ends of the valve plate may be lifted or lowered individually and therefore one end or the other of the valve plate may be moved farther away or closer to the feed roll. After the adjustment of the valve plate has been made in inclination or parallelism relative to the feed roll, the valve plate as a whole may be lifted or lowered by means of the lever I69 from the right-hand end of the spreader, as viewed in Fig. 1. For instance, the valve plate may be adjusted so that the feed may be greater on one side of the road-than on the other, and then the quantity of feed may be regulated by actuating only the lever I69 without further actuation of either of the handles. I18, I19.

It should be understood that whilethe rock shaft I41 fits into the slots I12 and I13 in the end plates 61 and 86, respectively, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the keeper plates I12 and I13 are bolted to the plates 61 and 86, respectively, and consequently such keeper plates form journal bearings for the ends of the shaft MI and the axis of the latter is fixed relative to the hopper. When the lever I69 is moved up or down the journal bearings I66, I61 move in parallel arcs on the shaft I II as a center. The journal bearings I66, I61 are swiveled to the arms I68, I68 and I69, I16, respectively, and the straps I60, I6I are pivoted at I56, I55 and'therefore the rods I64, I65

may sway back and forth as the lever I69 is swung up and down..

The adjustment of the lower edge of the gate I46 relative to the feed roll may be indicated by observation of the gate adjusting mechanism mounted on the outer surfaces of theplates 86 and 81. The brackets E52 and I53 form positive limits to the lowering and raising of the straps I69 and WI and consequently of the end portions of the gate M6. Although Figs. 2 and 3 show the gate I46 near its lowermost limit at both ends it should be understood. that the extension I 48 may have'its lower edge brought into contact or nearly so when the blocks I56, I51 are at their lowermost limits. By turning the handle I18 the block I66 may be liftedto such point as indicates the maximum desired distance between th gate extension I48 and the feed roll 26. In like manner by turning the handle I19 the height of the block I51 may be adjusted to indicate the desired maximum distance between the gate extension Hi3 and the feed'roll 29 near the plate 81. Then by moving the lever I 69 down from the position shown in Fig. 3, the distance between the gate I46 as a whole from the feed roll may be indicated by the notch: I15 where the latch I14 is located. The actuation. of the lever I69 operates to lift and lower both ends of the gate simultaneously and equally. The adjustment of the end portions of the gate at difierent distances from the feed roll is desirable. for road.

shoulderor. berm. However, when desired, equal adjustments of; the endportions of the gate from:

thefeed roll will. secure-the spreading of a layer of material ofequal depth throughout.

The hopper feed control or mechanism, in-

cluding the valve plate or feed gate I46, for adjusting' the rate of feed from end to end of the feed roll, is described and claimed in my copending application, S. N. 380,681, filed Feb. 26, 1941, for an improvement in Material spreaders.

Obviously those skilled inthe art may make various changes in the details and arrangements of parts. without departing. from the spirit and scope of the invention as: defined by the claims hereto appended, and I therefore wish not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described. and shown an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the. United States is 1. A. material spreader comprising the combination. with an elongatedhopper having an open top. extending throughout its length and proj ecting beyond both sides of the path of travel of a dumping truck, oi'supporting wheels set inwardly from the lateral ends of the. hopper, means at a discharge opening in the'bottom of the hopper for dischargingmaterial. along the path of the truck and substantially along both sides thereof, the discharge opening being coextensive laterally of such path with the lateral elongation of the opening in the top of the hopper, and the material dumped from the truck being free to spread laterally along such top toward both lateral ends of the hopper,. a rotary conveyor having mechanism in thehoppei'. spaced from said discharge opening for conveying material from the middle of the hopper toward both lateral ends thereof to assist in the spreading of the material into said hopper when; dumped from the truck, and mechanism comprising a slip clutch between one of the Wheels and said conveyor to effect rotation of the latter only for such conveying directions.

2. A material spreader comprising the combination with an. open top hopper having a discharge opening in its bottom, of a rotary actuator extending to opposite ends of the hopper, spaced-apart ground engaging wheels for supporting said hopper, driving connections comprising a reverse slip-clutch. between one of said wheels and said actuator to rotate the latter when the hopper is moved forwardly along a roadway, said clutch being automatically released when the'direction of travel of the hopper is reversed, additional driving connections com,- prising another reverse slip clutch between another of said wheels andsaid actuator to rotate the latter in the same direction when the hopper is moved rearwardly along the roadway, said last-named cluteh' being automatically released when the direction of movement along the roadway is reversed, a rotary conveyor in the hopper spaced from said discharge opening, and a driving connection. between the actuator and the conveyor to securerotation of the latter always in the same direction irrespective of the direction of travel of the hopper.

3. In a material spreader, the combination with an elongated hopper having an open top, of mechanism for flexibility hitching such spreader to a dumping truck, supporting wheel set inwardly from the lateral ends of the hopper in position to track the wheels of the dumping truck, said hopper extending laterally of the roadway beyond the path otthe truck, an elongated con- 'jveyor in the hopper spaced upwardly from the 8. In amaterial spreader, the combination with bottom thereof in position to convey material toward the lateral end of the hopper, separate -driving mechanisms connected between said wheels and said conveyor and comprising reversely arranged clutches, lever operateddevices one associated with each clutch for applying and releasing the same, only one of said clutches beingeifective when the hopper travels either forwardly or rearwardly so that said conveyor will always be rotated in the same direction to assure conveying action toward the lateral ends of the hopper, and means for effecting spreading of the material from the hopper onto the roadway.

4, In a material spreader, the combination with tan open top hopper having a dischargeopening in its bottom, of coupling mechanismadapted to connect said hopper to a draft vehicle, spacedapart wheels for supporting said hopperwith its lateral ends projecting laterally of the roadway f beyond the path of travel of the draft vehicle, mechanism in the hopper for conveying material therein toward the lateral ends of the hopper, driving connections comprising reverse slip clutches between said wheels and the said conveying mechanism to effect operation of the latter always in the same conveying directionrelatively to the lateral ends of the hopper whether the draft vehicle pulls or pushes the spreader along the roadway, and mechanism for spreading material from said hopper onto the roadway. 5. In a material spreader, the combination with a hopper having an open top and a discharge opening in its bottom, of means for spreading material from said hopper through said discharge opening, ground engaging wheels for supporting said hopper, elongated conveying mechanism in said hopper and spaced above said discharge opening, and driving means connected to said conveying mechanism to effect the operation thereof during th spreading of the material as aforesaid.

6; In a material spreader, the combination with a hopper, of ground engaging wheels for supporting the same, a conveying device mounted in said hopper in a position spaced above the bottom discharge opening in said hopper, means for effecting spreading of material from said hopper through said discharge opening, and -mechanism comprising a slip clutch adapted to drive said conveying device only in one direction relatively to said hopper, said clutch being automatically released when the direction of movement of the hopper is reversed.

7. In a material spreader, the combination with an open top hopper having a discharge opening in its bottom, of a rotary conveyor associated with said hopper, spaced-apart ground engaging wheels for supporting said hopper, coupling mechanism adapted to connect said hopper to a draft vehicle, driving connections comprising a f reverse slip clutch between one of said wheels and said rotary conveyor to drive the latter in a predetermined direction when the hopper is moved forwardly, said clutch being automatically released when the direction of movement of the hopper is reversed, additional driving connections comprising another reverse slip clutch between another of said wheels and said rotary conveyor to drive the latter in the aforesaid predetermined direction when the hopper is moved rearwardly, said last-named clutch being automatically released when the direction of movement of the hopper is reversed, and manual means for individually applying said clutches.

a hopper, of spaced-apart wheels for'suppo'rt'ing said hopper, arrotary conveyor associated :with said hopper, separate driving mechanisms connected between said wheels and said rotary conveyor and comprising reversely arranged clutches, and separate devices one associated with each clutch for applying and releasing the same, only one of said clutches being effective-when th hopper travels either forwardly or rearwardly, either clutch when effective being automatically released when the direction of movement of the hopper is reversed. 9. In a material spreader, the combination with an open top hopper having a discharge opening in its bottom, of a rotary conveyor associated with said hopper, coupling mechanism adapted to connect said hopper to a draft vehicle, spacedapart'wheels for supporting said hopper, and driving connections comprising reverse slip clutches between said wheels and said rotary conveyor to effect rotation of the latter always in the same direction relatively to the hopper whether the draft vehicle pulls or pushes the spreader along the roadway. a

10. In a material spreader, the combination with an open top hopper having a discharge opening in its bottom, of spreading mechanism associated with said discharge opening, coupling mechanism adapted to connect said hopper to a draft vehicle, spaced-apart wheels for supporting said hopper, an elongated conveying device in conveying device to effect rotation of the latter always in thersame direction relatively to the hopper whether the draft vehicle pulls or pushes the spreader along the roadway..

' 11. In a material spreader, the combination with a hopper, of ground engaging wheels for supporting the same, spreading mechanism associated with a discharge opening in the bottom of the hopper, conveying means in the hopper and spaced above said spreading mechanism, and driving means for the spreading mechanism and said conveying means to secure spreading of'material from said hopper while said conveying means transfers material in the hopper to facilitate action thereon by said spreading mechanism. 12. In a material spreader, the combination with a hopper, of spaced-apart wheels for supporting said hopper, spaced-apart rotary members one of which is a feed roll and the other a conveyor each associated with said hopper; separate driving mechanism connected between said wheels and said rotary members and comprising reversely arranged clutches, and separate devices one associated with each clutch for applying and releasing the same, only one of said clutches being effective when the hopper travels either forwardly or rearwardly, the construction and arrangement being such that each rotary member always maintain its own predetermineddirection of travel irrespective of the direction of travel of the hopper, either clutch when effective being automatically released when the direction of movement of the hopper is reversed.

13. A material spreader comprising the combination with a hopper, of spaced-apart wheels for supporting said hopper for travel along a roadway, a conveyor spaced above a discharge opening in the hopper and adapted to act on material in the hopper above such discharge opening, automatic means operable by movement of the spreader along the roadway for compelling opera- 'tion of thesaid conveyor always in the same direction irrespective of the direction of travel-of the hopper, and mechanism for efiectingspread of material from the discharge openingiii' the bottom of the hopper whether the hopper travels in. either direction.

' 14. A material spreader comprising the combination with a hopper, of spaced wheelsfor supporting said hopper for travel along a roadway,

-- a rotatable reversely arranged paddle conveyor spaced above a discharge opening in the hopper and adapted to act on material in the hopper above such discharge opening, rotatable feeding mechanism at the discharge opening in the bottom of the hopper, means for driving said I feeding mechanism when the hopper travels in one direction, separate means for driving the feeding mechanism in reverse direction when the hopper travels in the opposite direction, and means for effecting rotation of said paddle conveyor in the same direction whether the hopper travels forwardly or rearwardly on said wheels.

15.A material spreader comprising the combination with a hopper, of mechanism for supporting the hopper for travel along a roadway, a rotatable reversely arranged screw conveyor in the hopper spaced from the discharge opening thereof, a rotatable feeding device associated with said discharge opening, driving mechanism connected to said feeding device for operation by movement of the hopper along the roadway to compel the said feeding device to always rotate in the same direction irrespective of the direction of travel of the hopper along the roadway, mechanism comprising a slip clutch for connecting said feeding device to said screw conveyor, and manual means for applying said clutch, the construction andv arrangement being such that the screw conveyor will be compelledto rotate only in one direction and whensaid slip clutch is applied the conveyor will be rotated in the same direction irrespective of the direction of travel of the hopper.

'16. A material spreader comprising the combination with an open top hopper having a discharge openingin its bottom, of spaced wheels for supporting said hopper, a rotatable conveyor havin Q 1Y a ran e OH BY m ans ext nding from themiddle of the hopper to the latfor operation thereby.

17.. A material spreader comprising the combination with a hopper having a bottom discharge opening, of wheels for supporting said hopper for travel in either direction along a roadway, a rotatable conveyor mounted in the hopper above said discharge opening to spread material towards the ends, thereof, feeding and spreading means associated with "said discharge opening, andmechanismcomprising oneway slip clutches to drive said conveyor always in the same direction irrespective of the direction of travel. of the hopper along the roadway as auto- I matically compelled by said sli'p' clutches thereby by the conveyor toward the ends of 'the' hopper whether the hopper travels in one direction or the other.

18. A material spreader comprising the combination with a hopper having a bottom discharge opening, of a rotary conveyor in the hopper spacedfrom said discharge opening, feeding and spreading means associated with said discharge opening, mechanism for supporting said hopper for travel along a roadway forwardly or rearwardly, and driving means connected to said feeding and spreading means and to s aid'rotary conveyor, said driving means including autoa l m ha m b e by movem t o th spreader along the roadway to prevent'reve'rse rotation of said conveyor thereby automatically compelling the rotation of saidconveyor always i e s m re o w e he the hopper trave s forwardly or rearwardly along the roadway.

19. A material spreader comprising the combination with a hopper. having a bottom discharge opening, of wheels 'for supporting said hopper for travel along the roadway'in either direction, a discharge device associated with] said discharge opening, a rotary material conveying device spaced above said discharge device in position to convey material in the hopper towards the opposite lateral ends thereof, and automatic me nd nt o mdve n o the sp eade along the roadway for compelling rotation of said ma e i c n ey ng ce alwa s in. the sam direction irrespectiveof thedirection of travel of the spreader along the roadway.

20. A material spreader comprising the combination with a hopper, of spaced wheels for supporting said hopper, a rotatable screw conveyor in the hopper in position to spread material to- Wa t e ate al. en s of the hopper, a rotatable Emu a o sepa ate riving mechanisms between u fl whee s. and said actuator and comprising reversely arranged slipv clutches, a driving cofinection between said actuator and said conveyor, and manually operated devices one associated with each clutch for applying the same, only one of said clutchesbeing effective when the hopper travels either forwardly or rearwardly,

' the other being automatically released, the conroadway.

E. ARNDT- 

